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Balanced Cables – TRS to XLR

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  • October 30, 2012 at 7:03 pm #31063
    NORRIS Sydnor
    Participant

    Hee Won Jung, post: 30946, member: 948 wrote: You will want to use something like this:

    http://www.rane.com/bb44x.html

    I believe Jensens make something similar to this that will probably be cheaper.

    If I were to use a box like this, I can do a short RCA run from the controller to the box. After that, how far can I run XLR reliably from these boxes?

    October 30, 2012 at 7:08 pm #31064
    Hee Won Jung
    Participant

    I think its like 25-30ft…but i could be wrong

    October 30, 2012 at 7:35 pm #31065
    DJ 2 Cut
    Member

    BigSyd, post: 31219, member: 3965 wrote: If I were to use a box like this, I can do a short RCA run from the controller to the box. After that, how far can run XLR reliably from these boxes?

    I’ve seen XLR runs as long as 250-300 feet with no issue. I don’t know the limit though.

    October 30, 2012 at 7:40 pm #31066
    NORRIS Sydnor
    Participant

    Hee Won Jung, post: 31220, member: 948 wrote: I think its like 25-30ft…but i could be wrong

    I’m going to order the box I described above. I don’t foresee the need for the speakers to be no more than 25-30 feet away from me when playing. So, that should be perfect. Thanks!

    October 30, 2012 at 7:41 pm #31067
    NORRIS Sydnor
    Participant

    DJ 2 Cut, post: 31221, member: 1112 wrote: I’ve seen XLR runs as long as 250-300 feet with no issue. I don’t know the limit though.

    Wow! I should be more than covered then. Thanks for the info.

    October 30, 2012 at 8:19 pm #31072
    NewportDJ Drew
    Participant

    I’ve seen XLR runs as long as 250-300 feet with no issue. I don’t know the limit though.

    This is arguably the best benefit of running a balanced system. Huge cable runs are possible.

    October 30, 2012 at 8:49 pm #31074
    Hee Won Jung
    Participant

    Maybe someone with some experience with the cable stuff..NewportDrew might know the difference, but i was told that high impendence xlr should only be like 25 ft and low impendence xlr can go up to 250 ft. What exactly is the difference.

    From what I know…This is one of the big reasons why people use Passive sound systems as they want to keep all their XLR connections below 25ft and use the Appropriate speaker cables for bassbins and Monitors and that those cables can go upwards to 500 ft if necessary.

    so like what i thought and in my mind totally made sense is:

    ———————-less than 4ft ——————–up to 25ft ———————————————Up to 500ft.
    Controller/CDJ(RCA)>———————————

    October 31, 2012 at 6:04 am #31088
    NORRIS Sydnor
    Participant

    it is my understanding that even thought im converting my RCA source to XLR, that it will still remain unbalanced even though its XLR. Correct?

    October 31, 2012 at 6:57 am #31089
    NewportDJ Drew
    Participant

    If you are just wiring an rca to xlr plug then yes it remains unbalanced (bridge pins 1&3 on XLR).
    High impedance (high z), is usually an unbalanced lead (eg a guitar or a standard Tip/sleeve mic). This is a short run and needs to be under 3 meters.
    If you are using a DI (direct injection) box to convert RCA to XLR then you are converting Hi Z unbalanced to Low Z balanced and can have a longer cable run on the XLR side but NOT on the RCA side.

    October 31, 2012 at 7:37 am #31095
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    There is a huge difference in XLR cables and what the source is.
    For example if you are using a dynamic microfone (very low power) and go via XLR into a mixer, then the cable should not be longer than 25ft. since the current transported is very low and the mic itself is very high impedance.
    The cables for that are also most likely labeled “microfone XLR”. You can use this cables easily to run your DJ controller/mixer into a PA if the length is not over 25ft.
    If you have XLR cables many times called “core audio” or “for multicore” or “audio transport” and the input source already puts out some power (aka has at least a pre-amp, like a DJ mixer, synthesizer, keyboard, …) then you can go up to 250ft easily. Those cables are easily identified by their much larger diameter than the mic cables and the larger the diameter, the longer you can go. Also they cost a lot more than mic cables.
    If you go for really long setups than most sound crews use what is called “multi core”, which is basically a lot of transport XLR cables for all the gear in one very big diameter cable with an XLR connector box at both ends. (Very advanced sound crews might nowadays use a so called BUS system, where the whole thing is made digital and can be send over fibre optics. But I have only seen this with mega-setups like AC/DC concerts with 100k people etc.)

    October 31, 2012 at 5:29 pm #31126
    NORRIS Sydnor
    Participant

    Thanks for such valuable info. I feel a little bit better about getting everything setup now. I guess the manufacturers of low-end controllers try to keep cot down by using RCA outs instead of XLR outs on their units. I assume the more advanced/professional controllers have the balanced outputs (XLR/TSR). Perhaps Numark feels the owners of their Mixtrack Pro units wont be DJ’ing out into a mobile system. Perhaps they expect you to run to a mixer or sound board.

    I’m sure one day I will move up in controllers. For now, the info you guys have given here has helped me tremendously.

    Thanks.

    October 31, 2012 at 5:32 pm #31127
    NORRIS Sydnor
    Participant

    Newportdj Drew, post: 31245, member: 244 wrote: If you are just wiring an rca to xlr plug then yes it remains unbalanced (bridge pins 1&3 on XLR).
    High impedance (high z), is usually an unbalanced lead (eg a guitar or a standard Tip/sleeve mic). This is a short run and needs to be under 3 meters.
    If you are using a DI (direct injection) box to convert RCA to XLR then you are converting Hi Z unbalanced to Low Z balanced and can have a longer cable run on the XLR side but NOT on the RCA side.

    I decided to buy 2 RCA to XLR Cables at 10 feet each to give it a shot.

    I also ordered some XLR cables and this box:

    http://www.amazon.com/ART-CLEANBOXPRO-CLEANBoxPro/dp/B003S7T49K/ref=pd_sim_sbs_MI_1

    I now have two options to use whereas one will always be on standby for backup. for now, I just grabbed some 10 ft. XLRs to run out from this box.

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